Return of the cabover

August 3, 2011

CONCORD, Ont. -- Hino's much anticipated return to the cabover in the North American market has kicked into high gear with a series of tour stops to show off the company's soon-to-be-released Classes 4 and 5 155 and 195 models.

August 3, 2011
by
Truck News

Categories

Tags

Companies

Concord, Ont.-based Hino dealer Creditstone Motors showcased a pair of new cabover trucks at an open house and barbeque July 19. Pictured above is the Model 155, which, along with the Model 195, is set for a late-September release across Canada.

CONCORD, Ont. — Hino’s much anticipated return to the cabover in the North American market has kicked into high gear with a series of tour stops to show off the company’s soon-to-be-released Classes 4 and 5 155 and 195 models.

The two new models – and hybrid-electric versions of the same – made a big splash when they were first introduced at this year’s Work Truck Show in March – marking the first time the truck maker has launched a new model outside of the Japanese market first.

In mid-July, the Canadian leg of the tour made a stop at Creditstone Motors in Concord, Ont. – the oldest serving Hino dealer in Canada – where the dealer hosted an open house to showcase the trucks. Mechanics and Hino technicians from Japan were also on-hand for a customer care clinic to conduct free truck inspections for current customers.

The reaction to the new models has been overwhelmingly positive thus far, says Joe Loizzo, truck sales consultant at Creditstone.

“The reaction is a lot of people saying, ‘Welcome back; it’s about time’,” he told Truck News at the event. “They are great little trucks for downtown runs – the increased GVW, the increased horsepower, the GPS navigation system, the air seat for driver comfort, and the power heated mirrors – just all the little bells and whistles that we have put into them to make them a lot better than they were, and a lot better than the competition is offering.”

The hype generated by the 155 and 195 has continued since the initial March unveiling, Loizzo says, and from a sales perspective, he says he can’t wait for the trucks to hit the showroom floor in late September.

“With the 185 being discontinued, we are just waiting to put these things out there. It is a good little truck for the Class 5, and outdoes the competition in my opinion hands down,” he says. “To me, nothing compares with durability, dependability and fuel. They are great trucks.”

The hybrid version of the Class 5 195h is slated for release in December, and sales manager Tory Termini says companies running city applications stand to benefit the most.

“If you are running downtown and it is a stop-and-go application, it is always going to be running 90% on the electrical power so that you are going to get the benefits of being green and having the name and standing behind it,” he told Truck News.

The 155 and 195 models come with a five-year, 280,000 kilometre warranty, three-year roadside assistance and one-year, 50,000 kilometres free maintenance, “So the first year is basically just a turn-key,” Loizzo says. “You just start the truck and drive it off and don’t have to worry about any maintenance whatsoever.”

And like Hino’s transition to conventional-style trucks from cabovers in 2005, Termini says he expects the transition with the new models to be equally smooth.

“We have been getting updates and training brochures, so by the end of September, we should know the trucks inside and out like we have been selling them for two years,” he says. “We have got a pretty good team together to look after the customers, and the Japanese are very meticulous with their training and their R&D, so the truck has been cold weather-tested throughout the winter, the same as when they announced the diesel exhaust fluid; they brought them up to North Bay and Timmins and left them up there for a week to see how the truck performed in the cold weather. They do their homework before they put something on the road.”

Truck News

Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry. All posts by Truck News